Festivals seeking summer staff

Thousands of summer jobs are still up for grabs, with music festivals the main events for temporary work, according to a new study.

About 25,000 jobs remain unfilled, ranging from catering and hospitality to cleaners at festivals and sporting events.

Fruit pickers and packers are also in demand in the coming months, with 500 vacancies being advertised, said job search engine Adzuna.co.uk.

Flora Lowther, head of research at Adzuna, said: "While youth unemployment continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the UK economy, young people should be buoyed by the number of jobs still available this summer and the wages employers are willing to pay."
Stewards at music festivals can earn up to £7.50 an hour, marquee builders £6.75 and waitresses more than £6 an hour, while emergency GPs on hand at major events can earn up to £55 an hour, the research showed.

Free entry to sold-out festivals is on offer for litter pickers while some are on the lookout for "face paint co-ordinators".

Music festivals such as Glastonbury, the V, Bestival and Wireless are among the top events for creating summer work, as well as the Wimbledon tennis championships and Royal Ascot.